A collation or Collection!!!!

Information and Research 

• L-theanine is an amino acid found in green and black tea.
• Studies show that, even with 50mg doses mimicing normal dietary behavior, theanine increases production of alpha brain waves, which are the brain waves that increase creativity and decrease depression.
• Theanine is a glutamate antagonist, meaning it blocks glutamate receptors in the brain, which is part of the reason some people report a calming effect after taking theanine.
• Theanine has also shown promise as a sleep aid and in stopping the release of histamine from mast cells.
• Despite efficacy at 50mg doses, many theanine supplements up this dose to 100mg and beyond, so keeping an eye on dose is important.

So I would start at 50mg at 'night' (yours) and then move up from there.  I normally suggest that people do not use it in the morning as the effects over time and you want the supplement to help with he underlying issues of anxiety - not a quick fix.

The GABA tea does work and can be drunk during the day.  If I am having a difficult time I make a mug full, cool it, then drink from a mug with ice all the way through the day. It has a mild effect that is just enough of a lift.  I have persuaded hyper-active kids to try this as if does not have the side effects that either SSRI's or 'uppers' can be too harsh.

Taurine is an essential element in pet food.  If it is not in your dog food change your brand!  An absence of Taurine can result in CNS issues.  I get mine from eating well but you may want to see if it works first.  I am not sure of your routine but you should, at your time of life, be eating four and five times a day.  Small but healthy meals.

HRT menopause and endocrine issues:

I went through 'the change' without using anything but natural hormones.  I have not tried this salve from Swanson's but I know people who have and they recommend it.  PUREMEDY

I used PROGESTERONE cream and found that I could even tell from the dryness of my hands that I needed to use it.  In Africa women pound yam with natural yogurt and use that both on their skin and vaginal area.  It works. I am 'cheap' so I use Swanson's for everything and also because I found that they had the best reputation because of the turn-round being very fast.

5-HTP 5-Hydroxytryptopha increases serotonin levels to promote restful sleep, manage stress, and decrease sugar cravings.  50mg is about as much as you might want to use at night. It is regularly available in a health food store in 25mg and 50mg doses.  I like melatonin as well so I take the Swanson's brand. 

At the moment I am using 5-htp for sleep and as a very mild antidepressant.  Medically it is a precursor to serotonin but can be used occasionally.  I use one tab at night when I feel that my brain is still 'running' after my body has turned off.  I dream on this but nothing too dramatic - more importantly, I wake up when I want feeling rested and with no 'cotton mouth'.  I do not take it all the time but in the UK (40 years ago) I did and had no ill-effects. 

SAME-e. (look for item # 3)  GREAT as an anti-depressant and also helps liver recovery.  It is standard to start for depression and anxiety in Europe.  Your issue is more to do with anxiety and so I would try other things first.

Stress :   Try some of these but at the same time I would look at simple quick breathing exercises and do them frequently during the day.  I have worked with Chefs and have said that they need to do one of the breathing strategies EVERY time they wash their hands at work.

    SIMPLE OFFICE STRETCHES  for   STRESS.  Finally, Tai Chi.  At night - if I can't sleep or wake up too early - I get into my chair and watch the sun rise and slowly relax .  I have found this increases mobility and my reaction to pain. 

Anxiety redux - FYI only - CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, also known as GABA, is an amino-acid produced naturally in the brain from another amino acid and vitamin B-6. GABA found in the brain does help to improve sleep, symptoms of anxiety and panic. It has been found to help children with ADD/ADHD along with a low gluten diet and no high fructose corn syrup enhanced foods.

GABA supplement may interact with other drugs that stimulate GABA receptors in the brain, such as benzodiazepines and some muscle relaxants. Please consult a health care professional.

GABA TEA

www.amazon.com

Produced from low-elevation Taiwanese oolong tea leaves, this tea contains a high percentage of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA), known for having a calming effect on the nervous system. It has a wonderful, soothing flavor, said by some to be similar to that of ripe bananas; others liken it to baked yams.

L-Theanine

L-theanine, a compound found in tea, increases GABA levels and decreases caffeine's stimulant effects. This compound is one of the reasons that tea has a milder stimulant effect than coffee. L-theanine supplements are commonly taken in doses ranging from 200 milligrams to 800 milligrams per day. A study published in the September 2011 issue of the journal "Child: Care, Health and Development" found that L-theanine supplementation significantly increased GABA levels in children with traumatic backgrounds. Consult your doctor for guidance and supervision in the proper use of L-theanine.

Taurine

The amino acid taurine increases the effectiveness of GABA. Taurine can be added to your diet by eating lean meats, seaweed, nuts, legumes, onions, garlic and cabbage. Therapeutic doses for boosting GABA levels are obtained through supplementation. Typical doses of 1,000 to 5,000 milligrams per day have been used safely, according to Dr. Uzzi Reiss, author of the book "The Natural Superwoman: The Scientifically Backed Program for Feeling Great, Looking Younger, and Enjoying Amazing Energy at Any Age." Find your ideal dose by starting with a high dose to gauge your response. Too much taurine will have an overly calming effect and leave you feeling tired. Lower your dose until you no longer experience this side effect.

Vitamin B-6

Vitamin B-6 coordinates the mood-regulating and nervous system activity of other B-complex vitamins, thereby helping to ensure adequate production of GABA. In addition to food sources, such as lean meats, fish, egg whites and cabbage, vitamin B-6 supplements in doses up to 300 milligrams per day produce calming, anti-anxiety benefits. Since the B vitamins work as a team, for best results, take B-6 supplements along with a comprehensive B-complex providing at least 25 milligrams of each of the B vitamins.

Magnesium Glycinate

Include magnesium glycinate, a highly absorbable form of magnesium, to round out your GABA supplementation regimen. Magnesium is well known for its calming effects and provides a highly safe and natural approach when paired with vitamin B-6. Magnesium also supports your endocrine system, which, through feedback mechanisms, influences your brain's levels of neurotransmitters, including GABA. Start your magnesium supplementation at a low dose to avoid potential side effects, such as loose stools. Work up to a daily dose of 400 to 1,000 milligrams. A study published in the 2006 issue of the journal "Medical Hypotheses" found that magnesium glycinate was helpful in treating major depression.

See earlier posts:

http://phenomenologyexistent.blogspot.com/2007/08/alternative-therapies-for-depression.html

http://phenomenologyexistent.blogspot.com/2013/02/fyi-only-supplements-to-nature-and.html

http://phenomenologyexistent.blogspot.com/2013/02/fyi-only-supplements-to-nature-and.html

GENETIC SEXUAL ATTRACTION

"I knew Rita was my sister," he says now. "I didn't choose to fall in love with her, or expect to feel sexual desire. It just happened. Even in front of my wife, I made no attempt to hide my adoration, I just buzzed whenever she was around. It was as if no one else existed. The two biggest mistakes I made were deluding myself that I could become all-important in her life, a brother and a surrogate lover, even though she didn't desire me, and then believing I could control and resolve the problem by myself."

This is a genuine situation and the people caught up in this have very complicated emotions.
That awareness has led New York psychotherapist Joe Soll to adopt the term "genetic attraction", believing the word "sexual" is in many cases inaccurate and also responsible for the underlying shame and fear that make the condition so distressing. He has noticed that the "romance" that develops, especially when mothers meet their adult children, mirrors the sensuous bonding between a new mother and her baby. "These people regress to an earlier stage of development. The relationship is sensual, but we don't call it 'romance' or being 'in love' when it's breastfeeding, cradling and stroking, or when it's a mother and baby gazing into one another's eyes. Often, people tell me all they want to do is snuggle up together.  There's an urge for intimacy, which they were previously denied."

This isn't fiction; in the age of the sperm donor, it's a growing reality: 50% of reunions between siblings, or parents and offspring, separated at birth or in life, result in obsessive emotions. Should we criminalise a bond hardwired into our biology and psychology? 

This writer has no interest in this issue other than it exists and causes great pain to real people in real relationships.

You may care to follow up with:

https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/incest

http://www.gsaforums.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westermarck_effect